Sizing of textile yarn



e 2,743,194 Ice Beteuted Apr. 24, 1956 SIZING or TEX'EILE.ARN.

Robert G. Berner and Edgar Dare. Bolinger, Stamford, Conn., assignors, by mesne assignments, to Deering Millikan. Research Corporation, near Pcndleton, S. (3., a corporation of Delaware Nov Drawing. Application October 21,1949,

Serial No. 122,837

'6' Claims. (Cl. IN -139.5)

This n icn re es o he si in Q ext yarn and. more particularly, to. thesizing-of warp and weft; yarn prior to weaving with aqueoustsolutions of partially hydrolyzed polyvinyl acetate.

Weftand warp yarns arefrequently sized with solutions o Pa a y ydr yz p yv ny e a dur n l a cke agingin order to improve their weaving properties. How: ever, if theflyarn is formed; of fibers which have a high absorption of water, difficulties are, encountered; when aqueous sizing solutionsv are employed. It isnecessary-to dry the yarns immediately after sizing, before winding, when, aqueous solutions are employed, for after the yarn has been Wound on the qu r beam. t. sw lls and. stretches while still wet and then after it has beendri'ed, returns to its. original diameter but not to original; length, This results in. soft quills and} warp, beams;

It has now been determined that when; water-soluble partially hydrolyzed polyvinyl acetate is appliedf-romlan aqueous solution containing at least 35% of a waterso'luble volatile aliphatic; alcohol, there is notneed for a separate drying step, fo r swelling; and, stretching of weft and warp yarns are inhibited or completely eliminated, while thebeneficial. results. of application of theresin as a sizing agent are. not affected.

The. aliphatic alcohol shouldbe very soluble in oncompletely-misciblewith. water and have a boiling point: below 1 (2., sothat, it. may volatilize at: room temperature or be readily. removed. during. dryingof: theyarn, and may be any ofthe following: methyl. alcohol, ethyl: alcohol, isopropyl alcohol, 'tert-butyl alcohol, and propyl alcohol. Methyl alcohol is preferred because of its lowboil'mg point. which facilitates itsdissipation from the yam, without a separate drying step, and. because it is the most compatible with partially hydrolyzed polyvinyl acetate.

The process of the inventionis applicable to natural fibers as; a, class, such as cotton, linen, silk; and wool, and to synthetic fibers as avclass, formed, of cellulose derivatives such as cellulose acetate, cellulose propionate, and ethyl cellulose, or synthetic resins such asn ylon, polyacrylonitrile (Orlon), polyvinyl chloride polymers (Vinyon and Vinyon N), copolymers of vinyl chloride and vinyl acetate, and polyvinylidene chloride (Saran).

Partially hydrolyzed polyvinyl acetate which is completely soluble in water and in a mixture of water and an aliphatic alcohol of the above-mentioned characteristics is contemplated for use in the invention. Polyvinyl acetates having these properties are from 75 to 98% hydrolyzed. Aqueous solutions of these partially hydrolyzed polyvinyl acetates will tolerate a maximum of from about 40% (for the 98% hydrolyzed polyvinyl acetate) to about 85% (for the 75 hydrolyzed polyvinyl acetate) alcohol by weight. Higher amounts of alcohol cause precipitation of resin, or formation of a two-phase resin emulsion. While it is desirable, in order to minimize swelling and stretching of the yarn being treated, to keep the alcohol content of the solution at a maximum, it is, however, essential that the partially hydrolyzed polyvinyl acetate Z be. completely dissolved, thatvis, thata true aqueous solution thereof be employed.

Ordinarily-,- the coucd ltration of partially hydrolyzedpolyvinyl acetate in the size solution depends upon a numberof factors, including water absorption of theyarn fibers, denier andtwi'stof the yarn, type and pressure of the squeeze rolls, immersion time, temperature and he construction of thefabric to, be made therefrom. For treating viscose, yarns, aqueous solutions containing 8 to 13% partially hydrolyzed polyvinyl acetate are preferred, while for treating cotton andcellulose acetate yarns, aqueous solutions coiitain'ing'fr'om Ste 10%. partially hydro,- lyzed polyvinyl acetate aredesirable; For treating nylon yarns, from 8 to 15 partially," hydrolyzed polyvinyl acewe h l e. p e en Conc ntration aher han hese in rea e. e t n n y of. e. iz dyans to sti k. t gethe ile. lower. e nsentr t ons o no mat rially improve e ng Pr per ies The o o ng.m thod m p ation.of thez 111 tions of the inyentipn ispreferred: The hydrolyzed polyvinyl acetate is stirred into, water at up to, about 3,0"Q.,, and the water then warmed at C. to 90 C. until solution is complete. As concentrated an aqueoussolution as is, possible is prepared, Alcohol, is then addedto this solution until the solution. just. becomes. cloudy, and then sufficient water is added to clear up the cloudiness. The solution is then ready forapplication to the yarn.

In. ome. cases. t. s. sirab e. o. d. lubricant, such. as mall, amoun at nqlyhydrieaI QhQL. fo amalet thy e e. glycol, di hylene. gly ol, or, gIycero1,- to the. size ua'scl tionfi o der odecreasethe. coefiicient, of frie.

tionofi he zed yarn. t. is usually. advis ble. o. pply. the. sizing solu i n a .abou t. 2 j5 Q. anda viscosityof 5 0,1 0 cps. w.hen,a wick,

appl ator. is. u ed.. ,d @3510. .0 cps. wh n a r lnp ia a cris sedr Tjhesqlutionsyary n.- s.ws.ity h on:-

ceutt ticn, and; tempera u how er, and, th r fore, temperature which permits use of a solutiomof thedesired sc i y. at ir con entration; ecessary shouldof. course be employed. r

After weaving, the-partially.hydrolyzed polyvinyl acetate may readily be removed by immersion of the fabric inhot-water; asduringdheboil offz a The, fpllowling eitamples illustrate the invention:

EXALMB E If A single ends of, celluloseacet-ateyarn, l50=denier, 40 filament; zero-twist; is treatedwith a solution containing %-of; an 88%.hy drolyzedipolyvinyl" acetate, 34 water and 57.5% methyl alcohol atrrooml temperature by awick applicator during the quilling operation, usingtapered-butt quills. yam isthen woven asfillihgirra satin weave fabric; and comparedrwithi fabric wovem from untreated filling yarn of the same type. Results obtained in actual practice and typical of those to be expected are as follows:

Table I Treated Quality:

B percent.. d0- do- XX Filling Detects-Points/IOO yards Broken filaments Broken plcks Heavy marks Jerk backs 3 EXAMPLE II A single end of viscose crepe yarn, 100 denier, 60 filament, having a twist of 58 turns per inch, Z or S, is treated with a solution containing 11% of an 88% hydro lyzed polyvinyl acetate, 1.1% ethylene glycol, 33% water and 54.9% methyl alcohol, on an applicator attached to a Universal #90 winder, in which each yarn is drawn through individual grooves on a roll rotating in a bath of the treating solution. The amount of resin picked up by the yarn is determined by the speed of the roll, which is set at 14 r. p. m. The applicator is well shielded to prevent undue evaporation of methyl alcohol. Theyaru may then be woven as weft to form a plain weave fabric.

Quills wound from this yarn were observed to be hard and firm, and the yarn had no tendency to jump off the quill during unwinding.

EXAMPLE m A single end of tissue faille viscose yarn, 100 denier, 60 filament, a twist of 52 turns per inch, Z or S, 2 ply, is treated by means of the roll applicator of Example 11 with a bath containing 11% of an 88% hydrolyzed polyvinyl acetate, 1.1% ethylene glycol, 33% water and 54.9% methyl alcohol. The solution has a viscosity of 40 cp., using a Zahn No. 2 cup. Application to the yarn is made at a roll speed of 14 to r. p. m. The yarn is then woven as weft in a plain weave fabric.

Quills wound from this yarn were hard and firm, and the yarn thereon displayed no noticeable liveliness.

EXAMPLE IV A warp of cellulose acetate yarn, 75 denier, 24 filament, zero twist, is treated with a solution containing 8.5% of a 98% hydrolyzed polyvinyl acetate, 56.5% water and 35% methyl alcohol, by a wick applicator. Each yarn is drawn across the wick individually, and the amount of resin solution picked up by the yarn is determined by the speed of the warp beam. The applicator is well shielded to prevent undue evaporation of methyl alcohol. The yarn is allowed to dry at room temperature on the warp beam. The yarn may then be woven as warp to form a plain weave fabric.

The warp beam wound from this yarn was observed to be hard and firm.

' EXAMPLE V A single end of viscose crepe yarn, 100 denier, 40 filament, a twist of 52 turns per inch, Z or S, 2 ply, are treated by means of the roll applicator of Example 11 with a bath containing 11% of a 75% hydrolyzed polyvinyl acetate, 1.1% ethylene glycol, 17.9% water and methyl alcohol. Application to the yarn is made at a roll speed of 14 to 25 r. 'p. m. The yarn is then woven as weft or warp in a plain weave fabric.

. Quills wound from this yarn are hard and firm, and

the yarn thereon displays no noticeable liveliness.

The process of the invention, in addition to preventing soft quills or warp beams, also kills the liveliness of crepe yarns, and eliminates effectively their tendency to jump off quills. Also, it makes possible the weaving of zerotwist yarn as warp or weft, because by adhering the filaments together, it prevents strip backs.

In the specification and claims, all parts and percentages are by weight.

The following is claimed:

1. In. a process of sizing yarn, the improvement which comprises impregnating said yarn with an aqueous solution of a water-soluble, partially hydrolyzed polyvinyl acetate containing at least 35 per cent of a water-soluble, volatile aliphatic alcohol whereby said yarn may be collected without subjecting the same to a high temperature drying operation.

2. The process of sizing textile yarn which comprises impregnating a moving strand of such yarn with an aqueous solution of a water soluble, partially hydrolyzed polyvinyl acetate containing substantially a maximum quantity of a Water soluble, volatile aliphatic alcohol and immedi ately thereafter collecting said yarn without drying the same.

3. In a process of sizing yarn, the improvement which comprises impregnating said yarn with an aqueous solution containing from about 8 to 15% of a Water soluble, partially hydrolyzed polyvinyl acetate and containing at least 35% of a water soluble, volatile, aliphatic alcohol. and collecting the yarn immediately thereafter without drying.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein the water soluble aliphatic alcohol is methyl alcohol.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein the aqueous solution contains from 40 to 85% methyl alcohol and the polyvinyl acetate is from about to 98% hydrolyzed.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein the yarn comprise: viscose rayon.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,133,125 Voss et a1 Oct. 11, 1938 2,184,600 Knup et al. Dec. 26, 1939 2,300,074 Strain Oct. 27,1942 2,385,920 Jenkins Oct. 2, 1945 2,413,931 Stamatoft Jan. 7, 1947 2,417,885 Powell et al Mar. 25. 1947 2,418,927 Freund Apr. 15, 1947 2,421,122 Haefele May 7,1947 2,449,812 Hervey et al Sept. 21, 1948 2,468,345 Porter Apr. 26,1949

FOREIGN PATENTS 346,267 Great Britain Aug. 26, 1930 397,711 Great Britain Aug. 3l, 1933 OTHER REFERENCES Elvanol published by Du Pont, 1947. 

1. IN A PROCESS OF SIZING YARN, THE IMPROVEMENT WHICH COMPRISES IMPREGNATING SAID YARN WITH AN AQUEOUS SOLUTION TION OF A WATER-SOLUBLE, PARTIALLY HYDROLYZED POLYVINYL ACETATE CONTAINING AT LEAST 35 PER CENT OF A WATER-SOLUBLE, VOLATILE ALIPHATIC ALCOHOL WHEREBY SAID YARN MAY BE COLLECTED WITHOUT SUBJECTING THE SAME TO A HIGH TEMPERATURE DRYING OPERTION. 